AS CAREER changes go, it must rank as one of the starkest.

At the beginning of this year, Steve Clark was teaching pupils at Shirenewton Primary School, near Chepstow. Now he is co-hosting one of the biggest radio shows in Wales - the breakfast slot on Real Radio.

Originally from Staines but now living near Rogerstone with his Bassaleg-born wife, Helen, the 33-year-old swapped the chalkboard for the microphone at Easter, when he was taken on permanently by the station.

He had always been interested in becoming a DJ, and worked at Capital Radio in London and various stations in the north of England before deciding to forge a career in teaching when he started a family.

Over the last few years the father of two kept his studio skills sharp by juggling teaching with weekend and evening slots on Real Radio.

Shortly after Christmas last year he approached station bosses and asked for the top job alongside established breakfast DJs Sarah Graham and Gareth Setter.

They agreed, and the dramatic career switch means he can now spend more time with his family, set to have a new addition very soon as his wife is due to have their third child tomorrow.

He said: "Not wanting to knock the profession, but when I was teaching I would get home, have my dinner and play with the kids for about 15 minutes maximum before having a bath and going to bed.

"Now I get to spend a lot more time playing with my sons, and they provide some great material for the show!" Steve, who was head of Key Stage Two and specialised in IT at Shirenewton Primary, has nothing but praise for the school and his former colleagues. "

Shirenewton is a fantastic school and I can't speak highly enough about it," said Steve, who even attended a headship course, and will find out later this year if he is qualified to run a school.

"In the time I was there it went quite well for me because I did a lot of the design work for the website and we won an award for the best school website in the UK, which for a leafy primary is pretty amazing."